HIGHLANDERS head coach Kelvin Kaindu could be pinning his hopes on new boy Gabriel Nyoni and midfielder Douglas Sibanda in his strategy as the second half of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season gets into gear.
FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
Bosso completed a double over Hwange with a 1-0 win at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday and it was the two coming in from the bench who changed the otherwise dull complexion of the game. Scorer Heritein Masuku was also in superb form.
Attacking midfielder Milton Ncube has maintained his form and was also instrumental in some of Bosso’s moves on Sunday.
Nyoni replaced injured Beaven Chikaka two minutes before the break and displayed touches of brilliance and keenness to score upfront and could be the next ray of hope for the blunt Bosso strikeforce, guilty of several missed chances that had seen the Bulawayo giants go for five matches without a win.
The former Highlanders junior had been on loan to Division One side Bulawayo Chiefs where he banged in four goals before attracting the Bosso senior team technical department.
He has only played 73 minutes for Bosso, coming in for Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube in the 64th minute against Chicken Inn last weekend and Chikaka, two minutes before the break against Hwange on Sunday and is yet to find the net for Highlanders.
Sibanda joined Bosso at the beginning of the season from Gwanda Ramblers and on Sunday replaced Mthulisi Maphosa, who limped off in the first minute. The heavily-built midfielder made a mark in the middle of the park, involving himself in the only goal that earned Highlanders the three points.
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After the match on Sunday, Kaindu said the continued apperance of the two in the first team will depend on who they will be playing against, saying Tshiki had failed to make it to the first team that played Hwange, an indication Nyoni could be coming in regularly.
The bustling Tshiki and another striker Graham Ncube were not even on the bench. “Their (Nyoni and Sibanda) playing regularly will depend on the opponents and how they perform at training. As for Njabulo, honestly speaking, he did not make it into the team,” Kaindu said. The rumour mill indicated that FC Platinum’s Joel “Josta” Ngodzo could be on his way back to Bosso before the transfer window closes next Wednesday, together with teammate and Warriors striker Charles Sibanda.
Bosso have leapt back to position two on the log table with 34 points, three behind leaders Harare City. They have made life difficult for Hwange who remain on 18 points, four behind basement side Motor Action.
Ambitious Chicken Inn faltered at the weekend after dropping three important points with a 2-3 loss to Black Mambas in Harare on Saturday. They dropped to position five.
FC Platinum were on the receiving end once again losing 0-2 to Harare City on Saturday while Shabanie Mine eased their relegation fight with a 1-0 win over How Mine at Luveve.
Beitbridge-based Tripple B held fellow strugglers Motor Action to a goalless draw in Harare on Saturday to continue their fight against relegation. Troubled Black Rhinos’ move to Rimuka Stadium seems to be paying off after they held champions Dynamos to a goalless draw on Sunday.
